Science lesson plan · 12th grade (Year 13 in England) · 60 minutes
Membrane structure, protein channels and bulk transport
Cells, genetics and evolution
CCSS NGSS.HS-LS1-2CCSS NGSS.HS-LS1-3England: A level Biology: Cell membranes (extension)
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Membrane structure, protein channels and bulk transport.
- I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
- I can explain each step and say why it works.
- I can check my answer and spot a mistake.
Before and after
Needs first: Diffusion, osmosis or active transport?
Leads to: the next skill in this area.
Materials: Microscope images or slides, Cell diagrams, Mini whiteboards, A diagram or short video clip of the idea, Printed student sheet (below).
Warm-up · 6 min
- Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Diffusion, osmosis or active transport?). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- Which process is this: carbon dioxide entering a leaf? (diffusion / osmosis / active transport) → diffusionPrompt: Is it water specifically? Is it going against the gradient?
- What do diffusion and osmosis have in common? (Both move only water / Both are passive: they need no energy from respiration / Both move substances against a gradient / Both need mitochondria) → Both are passive: they need no energy from respirationPrompt: Osmosis is a special case of diffusion.
- Transport in cells: which statement is true? (Active transport only happens in plants. / Osmosis needs energy from respiration. / Water moves by osmosis from a concentrated to a dilute solution. / Active transport can move substances from a low to a high concentration.) → Active transport can move substances from a low to a high concentration.Prompt: Which process needs energy?
Hook · 6 min
- Show a microscope image of cells and ask what students think they are looking at.
- Share the objective: Membrane structure, protein channels and bulk transport. Read the success criteria together.
I do: model it · 12 min
- Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
- Example: Is this passive or active transport: a gland cell releasing hormone in vesicles (exocytosis)?
- Step 1: Active transport and bulk transport use energy from ATP.
- Step 2: So the answer is: active (uses ATP)
- Answer: active (uses ATP)
- Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.
We do: guided practice · 12 min
- Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
- Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
- Is this passive or active transport: facilitated diffusion of glucose through a channel or carrier protein? (passive (no ATP needed) / active (uses ATP)) → passive (no ATP needed)Prompt: Does it go down a gradient by itself?
- Cystic fibrosis is caused by a faulty chloride ion channel protein. What does this show? (Ions cross membranes without help / Membrane proteins are vital for moving specific ions across membranes / Channel proteins carry oxygen / Phospholipids are made of chloride) → Membrane proteins are vital for moving specific ions across membranesPrompt: Charged ions cannot pass through the fatty middle of the bilayer.
You do: independent practice · 17 min
- Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
- Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.
The 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.
Exit ticket · 7 min
- Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
- What are the two parts of a phospholipid molecule? (a nucleus and a membrane / a hydrophilic (water-loving) head and two hydrophobic (water-fearing) tails / two heads and no tails / a protein and a sugar) → a hydrophilic (water-loving) head and two hydrophobic (water-fearing) tailsPrompt: This is why phospholipids form a double layer in water.
- Membranes: which statement is true? (Large proteins pass through the membrane by simple diffusion. / Phospholipid tails are attracted to water. / Facilitated diffusion uses carrier or channel proteins but no ATP. / Facilitated diffusion moves substances against their gradient.) → Facilitated diffusion uses carrier or channel proteins but no ATP.Prompt: Which processes need ATP?
Watch out for
- Everyday meanings of words getting in the way of the science meaning: define key words explicitly.
- Remembering facts without the reason: ask "why?" and "what is the evidence?"
Support and stretch
Support
- Review first: Diffusion, osmosis or active transport?.
- Use concrete materials: microscope images or slides.
- Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
- Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.
Stretch
- Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
- Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.
Homework and more practice
Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/science/grade-12.
Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder